Pageant with a difference - all the ‘girls’ are being played by men

Beastly beauty in hilarious comedy

A FABULOUS musical comedy about the world of beauty pageants is coming to Poole.

Pageant tells the tale of six hopeful contestants who are battling it out to win the coveted title of Miss Glamouresse, but this is no ordinary pageant - all the ‘girls’ are being played by men.

With catchy songs, outrageous costumes and hilarious dialogue, the contestants compete in rounds including talent, spokesperson, ball gowns and swimsuits. Finally, their fate rests with a panel of judges selected from the audience. Who will it be?

Legendary musical writer and director Bill Russell (Side Show, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens) reunites with actor Miles Western for this new production of Pageant, which ran in the West End and won Western an Olivier for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. The show will play at the London Irish Centre as part of the Camden Fringe, before travelling to the Poole.

Miles Western, now playing the role of host Frankie Cavilier, will be joined by Nicholas Chiappetta (What’s Love Got To Do With It? at the Charing Cross Theatre; Madame Butterfly, Heritage National Opera UK Tour) as Miss Industrial Northeast, Alex Anstey (winner of national drag talent contest Drag Idol) as Miss Great Plains, John McManus (Top Hat, West End; Sweeney Todd, West End; Taboo, BBC) as Miss Bible Belt, Kevin Grogan (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, No 1 Tour; voithia, English Touring Opera) as Miss West Coast, Adam O’Shea (One Fine Day, European Tour; Lead Vocalist on Silver Sea Line Cruises and the QE2) as Miss Deep South, and Jonni Gatenby (Strictly Come Dancing, BBC; The Tootsie Rollers, The Hippodrome) as Miss Texas.

The show comes to Lighthouse on September 1 and September 2. Call 01202 280000 or see lighthousepoole.co.uk

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